classics digests, reflections and reviews
A collection of letters written by Cicero to his close friend Atticus during his declining years, i.e., the period between the death of his daughter and his own murder, which is also a period of crisis in Roman history, from the fall of the Republic to the rise of dictatorship and the Roman Empire. The letters provide rare insights into Cicero as a person, friend, prolific writer and astute statesman. The […]
Read more“That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.” More than two thousand years ago, Cicero summarized the theologies of ancient Greek philosophers, in the form of a brilliant, pungent and witty debate among the representatives of the Stoic, Epicurean and Academic schools. The discourse is centered around four questions: Do gods exist? What […]
Read moreSynopsis “Ninety-Three” reminds me of “Iliad” and “The Trial and Death of Socrates“. There’re memorable adventures and battles at sea, a ferocious siege that leads to a battle to the death, and finally, in the face of death, a contemplation of meaning, duty, freedom and destiny. Echoes of these contemplations are found in Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”, especially the Epilogue. If you’ve read “Les Misérables”, you would notice the year 93 […]
Read moreIn his book “What is Art”, Tolstoy gives a few “examples of the highest art”. “Les Misérables” is one of them. “Les Misérables” is not so much a novel as an immense commentary of the world, of society, human nature, religion, history, revolution and progress, the Infinite and the minute, the beautiful and the ugly, the wise and the stupid, the noble and the base, sufferings and triumphs, love and […]
Read moreA well-balanced, comprehensive account of Einstein’s personal life, scientific visions and achievements, as well as his political beliefs and activism. A good complementary reading to Einstein’s “Ideas and Opinions“. The book presents Einstein not as a genius with a superior brain, but as someone whose awe at the beauty and intelligence of the laws of nature and whose indomitable tenacity to pursue his vision should inspire us all. The most […]
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To understand Einstein as a human being, as well as his scientific vision, one must read this book. He had an acute appreciation of human nature, even the characteristics and emotional temperament of a nation as a whole, with a mischievous sense of humor. He was also a passionate pacifist and a Zionist, who believed, perhaps naively, the cultural and social development of a Jewish nation would benefit both the […]
Read moreThe Beauty of Logic I first came across an exposition of the theory of relativity in “The Elegant Universe” by Brian Greene, and “A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking. Without those two books, I don’t know whether I would be able to understand and appreciate this book as much as I do now. With that said, however, the exposition in this book is far better than the other […]
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